I am wondering if or how your method of prayer has changed? This question is for everyone, including never-been dubs (which I am). What does prayer mean to you, not what others have told you it means. Have you explored methods of prayer other than discursive prayer like contemplative prayer or christian meditation. Or perhaps you have dropped all formal methods of prayer altogether for whatever reason.
poppers
JoinedPosts by poppers
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Has your prayer life changed?
by poppers ini am wondering if or how your method of prayer has changed?
this question is for everyone, including never-been dubs (which i am).
what does prayer mean to you, not what others have told you it means.
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122
Do you fear death?
by onacruse in.
the ultimate test of our existence: termination.. i don't fear death...no reservations, no nightmares.. craig
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poppers
Do I fear death? No. When I discovered who "I" really am I discovered that who I thought I was didn't even exist. That other "me" was a fictional character that had all sorts of fears, including fear of death. There is a direct knowing that what I really am is life itself, and life has no opposite or end. But there was a psychological death of the character who I thought I was. Sounds complicated, but in reality is simplicity itself.
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Are many of lifes questions from influence?
by gumby inwho put us here?
is there a god somewhere?.
if you were raised on an island completely isolated from outside influence of man.......would you ask these questions above?
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poppers
I suspect that if you were completely isolated from the influence of other thinking minds from birth many questions wouldn't arise...there would be a natural instinct to do the things necessary to survive but there would also be a deep connection to the immediate environment; I would venture to say that you wouldn't feel any separation from the environment at all, and ideas of god wouldn't be necessary because the immediate experience of god would be a tangible reality even though there may not be a claim/thought that that experience had the label god. Things would just be seen as they are because that's what they are to that individual. This wouldn't be the same as just being an animal, however, because the human species seems, at least, to be endowed with a thinking mind. The mind in this case, however, would only be used as a tool and not as something to construct an identity out of.
I tend to feel that many concepts wouldn't even be entertained because the person would be so in tune with what's immediately in front of him that the mind wouldn't generate questions. Would there be pain? of course. Would there be suffering? I tend to think not, for suffering is generated by a mind which resists what is, and there would be an inherent acceptance of what is (IMO).
I would guess the mind would operate when needed to deal with an immediate situation but would "turn off" when no longer needed. Why bother with something that isn't immediately in front of one? I suspect that the concept of time wouldn't be created - it would always be now (which of course it is anyway, but it would be one's reality) and without such a concept problems aren't created. Just think to yourself how the concept of time generates so many problems in your own life.
Since there would be no societal/religious/educational institutions telling one how things are "supposed" to be, there would be no struggle to change things from what they already are. In other words, there would be a natural surrender to what is. And in that is found a deep and abiding peace.
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What gives you your spiritual high now?
by poppers injust wondering what sorts of things give you the "spiritual high" that you may have previously gotten from jw.
another form of religion (within christianity or some other religion)?
meditation?
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poppers
Gretchen - what a great story! You remind me of Anne of Green Gables and how totally open she was to nature and how she would lose herself while absorbed in it, and how she imagined wood elves and fairies dancing and hiding among the plants and foilage. If you haven't read the book please do, I know you will love it and relate to her experiences - the first two movies are especially good as well, Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, forget about the third one though.
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What gives you your spiritual high now?
by poppers injust wondering what sorts of things give you the "spiritual high" that you may have previously gotten from jw.
another form of religion (within christianity or some other religion)?
meditation?
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poppers
To Evesapple -
You have found a great truth - right here right now is where "it's" at and nothing has to be done to find it - so the best thing is one doesn't have to go anywhere at all.
To Willyloman -
Yes, it is AMAZING how simple it is.
To Markfromcali -
I know what you are saying.
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What gives you your spiritual high now?
by poppers injust wondering what sorts of things give you the "spiritual high" that you may have previously gotten from jw.
another form of religion (within christianity or some other religion)?
meditation?
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poppers
Talesin - I definitely relate to your experiences. I feel that religion often (usually IMO) gets in the way of spirituality. I get a "high" just walking down the street, watching the trees piroette as I pass by. I find nature to be the ideal place to experience a deep sense of wonderment; and to me that's best and purest form of spirituality. Nothing, outside of man, strives to be other than what it already is. For me that's the key - just "be" what I am.
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What gives you your spiritual high now?
by poppers injust wondering what sorts of things give you the "spiritual high" that you may have previously gotten from jw.
another form of religion (within christianity or some other religion)?
meditation?
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poppers
Sassy - I am so sorry that is your experience now. I hope that you can discover the spiritual in the ordinary and see that it isn't necessary to rely on anything outside you to get the "high" back.
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Ever walk a labyrinth?
by poppers inif you're looking for an interesting experience and a chance to experience "walking meditation" look for a labyrinth to walk.
unlike a maze, you won't get lost while walking - all you have to do is keeping moving and you will reach the center.
mentally refreshing and physically rejuvinating are common experiences, as well as triggering insights into life's problems.
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poppers
If you're looking for an interesting experience and a chance to experience "walking meditation" look for a labyrinth to walk. Unlike a maze, you won't get lost while walking - all you have to do is keeping moving and you will reach the center. Mentally refreshing and physically rejuvinating are common experiences, as well as triggering insights into life's problems.
I used to have a 30 foot diameter 7 circuit labyrinth in my backyard (which my JW neighbor refused to even look at). I have also constructed the more elaborate 11 circuit labyrinths. Lots of stuff out there on the net if you are interested.
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What gives you your spiritual high now?
by poppers injust wondering what sorts of things give you the "spiritual high" that you may have previously gotten from jw.
another form of religion (within christianity or some other religion)?
meditation?
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poppers
Just wondering what sorts of things give you the "spiritual high" that you may have previously gotten from JW. Another form of religion (within Christianity or some other religion)? Meditation? Service to others? A philosophical stance? Paganism? Dropping all beliefs in anything? Or has nothing replaced the high you felt (spiritually speaking, that is) and you are more focused on "mundane" pleasures?
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This is true love...
by kitties_and_horses_oh_my! inso today i'm driving home and a block from my house there's a boy on the ground.
he'd been hit by a car while riding his bike.
everyone had stopped and i ran up to help if i could.
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poppers
If that father who refused permission were human at all he'd have driven to the boy's house himself - I bet he'd have done as much if the injured party were a dog.